'Protecting youth, curbing financial and social harm': India blocks 242 illegal betting sites as online gaming crackdown intensifies
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "'Protecting youth, curbing financial and social harm': India blocks 242 illegal betting sites as online gaming crackdown intensifies")
For representative purpose only Photograph: (Unsplash)
The Indian government has blocked 242 illegal betting links, taking the total shutdowns to over 7,800, as enforcement ramps up under the Online Gaming Act, 2025.
The government of India has intensified its crackdown on unlawful online betting and gambling by blocking 242 website links in a fresh enforcement action, officials confirmed on Friday (January 16). With this latest move, the total number of illegal betting and gambling platforms taken offline has crossed 7,800. Authorities said enforcement efforts have accelerated significantly since the introduction of the Online Gaming Act, with a strong focus on safeguarding users, particularly young people, from the financial and social harm associated with illegal gambling platforms.
The stepped-up action follows the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, passed by Parliament in August last year. The legislation establishes a dedicated legal framework for the online gaming sector, places restrictions on certain real-money games, and enhances regulatory oversight of unlawful gambling activities.
Under the Act, operators offering prohibited online money games face stringent penalties, while enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers to investigate, penalise, and take action against both platform operators and advertisers promoting illegal gaming services. Government briefings at the time highlighted concerns over addiction, mounting financial losses, and social distress linked to unregulated real-money gaming.
Website blocking has been executed through existing legal mechanisms under the Information Technology Act, including Section 69A, which allows authorities to restrict access to online content deemed illegal or harmful. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has relied on these provisions, along with the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to direct internet service providers and digital platforms to disable access to gambling-related websites and applications. Officials noted that the new gaming law has provided clearer authority, enabling faster and broader enforcement.
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